ByWITH ANALYSIS FROM MONITOR CORRESPONDENTS AROUND THE WORLDEDITED BY HILARY DEVRIESFebruary 18, 1981

Washington
— Two Americans were imprisoned in North Yemen for several months on charges of spying before they were released earlier this month, State Department sources disclosed. The US made repeated contacts with the government in Sana in attempts to resolve the matter, officials said. The two were identified as William Thomas Jr. and DuWayne Terrell, both of whom have now left Yemen.

The State Department officially confirmed Mr. Thomas's detention but declined to discuss the Terrell case. A spokesman said Mr. Thomas denied being a spy an d complained of mistreatment during his imprisonment.